REVEALED: CANNABIS CLINIC BID

Acannabis user from Stockport wants to set up the UK's first legal dope
clinic for people with medical complaints. Colin Davies plans to set up a
centre in Greater Manchester, based on a project in Los Angeles, where state
law permits people to grow and use the drug if they have officially
recognised medical conditions such as muscle spasms, multiple sclerosis and
arthritis.

Mr Davies, recently charged of drugs charges after it was revealed he smoked
cannabis joints to relieve pain caused by a broken back, said he had no wish
to break the law.

But he called on the government to update its policy, in order for such
centres to operate legally.

The 40-year-old former carpenter plans to visit the USA later this year to
see how the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Centre operates on a day-to-day
basis.

State law there allows people with doctors' certificates to use cannabis for
medical purposes.

Scott Imler, the centre's president, said: "We are growing it together and
we share the cost of doing it. We work very closely with the police and the
city.

"It's bad enough having to deal with illness, without having to go out and
get it from the black market"

Mr Davies, who lives in Brinnington, said: "I would like to set up one of
these centres over here, if I can find a sponsor. It would involve cannabis
being supplied for medical reasons.

"It would be the UK cannabis club, working on the same basis as the one in
Los Angeles.

"I don't want to do anything illegal, but the law needs to be taken up to
the same point that it is over in Los Angeles.

"I have an open invitation to go and see how they do things over there and
I'm hoping to go over before Christmas."

Derek Williams, from the Legalise Cannabis campaign, said: "Cannabis is very
good medically.

"It contains a lot of beneficial things. I believe it should be made widely
available as quickly as possible."

Dr Tom Carnwath, from the Trafford Drugs Team, explained that more research
was going into the medical benefits of the drug.

He said: "The government has followed the lead of the British Medical
Association and relaxed its guidelines with regard to this, allowing more
research into cannabis. But this man can't just set up this place. "He would
have to get a licence from the home office and they're not giving them out."

POLICE WARN DEALERS OVER LEGAL DOPE SEEDS

Police have issued a warning to dealers buying cannabis seeds from
legitimate stores before growing and selling the drugs. The statement comes
after the launch of the new cannabis shop Buzzin Budz in Tib Street, where
the seeds are legally sold. Police have vowed to come down hard on dealers
moving in on Buzzin Budz or any other store in the area, with sellers facing
court and possible imprisonment. Cannabis-users were also reminded that they
could face prosecution, even for possessing small amounts. A police
spokesman said: "If we receive information there might be people trying to
purchase the seeds for supply purposes, that's a different matter. "Intent
to supply is serious. It all depends on the circumstances. If he or she is
carrying a sackful around, it would be hard to justify it was for their own
consumption. "And even if it's just for your own use and it's a fairly small
amount, we can still prosecute." Buzzin Budz owner, Dave Stevenson, told
Metro he'd had no problems with the police since he opened a fortnight ago.
"They've popped in socially to make sure everything is OK," he said. "I'm
treated like any other retail outlet. There's nothing we are doing that's
illegal."

COPS DON'T BOTHER US, SAY SHOPKEEPERS

Dope seeds are openly available across the counter at up to half a dozen
shops in Greater Manchester. The seeds are available from stores in both
Manchester and Stockport, with Buzzin Budz in Tib Street being the latest
addition. Traders are legally entitled to sell the seeds, as long as they
give no advice on cultivating the products into the popular drug. Other
shops currently selling the controversial seed packets include Toking
Smoking in the Coliseum and the alternative clother store Cobwebs, in
Underbank, Stockport. Both premises sell a range of dope seeds and said
there had been little interference from the police. Ian Titterington, one of
the owners of Toking Smoking, which sells a variety of seeds, said: "I've
been selling the cannabis seeds for the last three years. It's legal until
they are geminated. The police don't bother." Pete Bauer, manager at Cobwebs
said: "We sell all kinds of seeds, like Durban Girl and Thai Seeds."

Checked-by: Don Beck